December 29, 2020

How to Become a Virtual Assistant

Man on phone looking at computer screen
Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

Becoming a Virtual Assistant can be a great way to earn income while learning a variety of useful skills.  It can be a great side hustle or morph into a full-time business, if that is what you are looking for.  It works great for anyone that wants to work online from home, including retired people, students, and almost anyone else.

Virtual Assistants first became popular back when small online business owners figured out they could hire assistants offshore for a fraction of what it costs to hire an employee locally.  Virtual assistants could theoretically handle any task that could be done via the phone and Internet.

Business owners soon found that they needed a variety of virtual assistants, both offshore and onshore.  It depended on the tasks needed, the individual, and the needed interaction with others.

Good Virtual Assistants work hand in hand with the business owner or manager.  They are proficient with office applications, searching and using the internet, and accomplishing all kinds of tasks via the Internet and phone for their client.  There are lots of articles out there about how to find a good Virtual Assistant.  Look at these as a guide to setting up your own VA business.

Like many businesses the key here is getting your first few clients and then if you are good you will live off referrals.  You may want to do some small jobs for free or at low rates to get to know a potential client.  Just make sure they know those are not your regular rates!

What Services Do Virtual Assistants Provide?

Here is just a small sampling:

  • Customer Service
  • Email Assistance
  • Research
  • Website Design
  • Website Maintenance
  • Travel Arrangements
  • Social Media Assistance
  • Online Forum and Community Assistance
  • Proofreading
  • Editing
  • Various Kinds of Writing
  • Spreadsheet and Accounting Support
  • Data Entry
  • Sales Assistance
  • Dozens More…

What Skills Do I Need to Learn?

You may already have many of the skills you need, and you can learn the rest.  There are online Virtual Assistant courses that might make sense.  Individual skills can be learned with inexpensive online courses.  My current favorite is Udemy, where many courses go on sale for about $10.

Pay special attention to online business-related skills.  Learn the basics of website creation, online sales, online marketing, and social media.

How Do I get Started?

Figure out what you can offer.  What are your current skills?  What can you learn quickly?

Set up your business.  Nothing fancy is needed but form a Proprietorship or LLC (for asset protection.)  Set up a separate business checking account and get some business cards.  Get some legal advice if needed. (I’m not a legal or accounting professional so this article shouldn’t be considered a source of that level of advice.)

Set up a website.  It’s not that hard and even a basic one makes you look much more professional.

Decide how to market yourself to get your first clients.  Online services like Upwork or Fiverr can help you get your first clients, although the jobs are usually low paying.  You may want to contact local small businesses and tell them what you offer.  Use Email, phone or even in person visits.

The nice thing is that as you gain more clients and learn more advanced skills your rates can keep increasing.  And the increases can be much greater than the 3% annual raise at a normal job.

Becoming a virtual assistant can lead into all kinds of things as you learn new skills.  Eventually you may be the one hiring virtual assistants!

Filed Under: Business, Learning, Personal Development, Work Leave a Comment
December 4, 2020

Age Doesn’t Matter Online

Computer Screens
Photo by Piotr Wilk on Unsplash

Age doesn’t matter when you are online.  It’s one of those obvious truths that somehow hit me between the eyes recently. If you are wondering how you can stay productive as you age look to the online possibilities.

You can do many online activities in your 60s, 70s, 80s, or beyond!

It’s the ultimate never retire strategy.

Basics First

If the whole online scene seems a little foreign to you let’s take a look at some basic skills.

Can you use a browser?  The online world exists in browsers so get to know your browser and search engines.  It does not matter if you use Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari.  Learn how to get the most out of your browser.

You need to write.  That means a word processor.  You can use Microsoft Word (subscription based,) Google Docs (free,) or Libre Office (also free.)

Spreadsheets aren’t just for financial gurus.  Besides keeping track of money matters you can use them to track almost anything.

Want to reach the world through the Internet?  That usually means a Website.  While there are lots of web site builders out there it might pay to learn WordPress.  WordPress is used by at least 30% of all websites on the Internet, far more than any other tool.  Learning WordPress is not too difficult and there is lots of help on the Internet.

So how will you stay productive?

Spread your message, whatever it is…

Your own website or blog can be your speaker to the world.  Whether you are sharing your hobby or ideas, a website or blog can be your way to share with the world.

You can learn stuff

There are thousands of ways to learn new things online.  Many sources are free and many others are quite reasonable.

My personal favorite right now is Udemy.  Many courses go on sale for about $10, and I’ve found most to be high quality.  A rating system lets you know what others think of the courses.  One great thing about online video courses is you can go back and re-watch anything that is not clear.  Give online learning a try!

You can keep working or start a business

There are many jobs that you can do remotely.  The interview is online.  The work is online.  The social interactions are online.  I am writing this during the great pandemic of 2020.  One of the lessons learned is that much work can be done remotely.  And in many cases no one really knows or cares how old you are if you can do the work.

You can start a business online and no one knows or cares about your age.  Your customer cares that you can deliver the goods!

Some businesses are close to regular jobs, but you work for yourself.  Here are some examples:

Freelance writer

Content is everywhere on the web and there is always demand for more content.

Web Developer

Once you learn how to build your own WordPress websites you can build them for others.  From there as you learn more technical skills the sky is the limit.

Virtual Assistant

As its name implies a virtual assistant works “virtually.”  Once you learn some basic skills you can use them to perform work for small businesses and busy entrepreneurs.

Next you have a whole assortment of business opportunities.  Here are just a few ideas:

Sell Stuff

You can start with all that extra stuff you have sitting around the house and maybe graduate to buying stuff and reselling the items at a profit.  What comes to mind are those that buy antiques or similar items at yard sales and then sell them online for a profit.

Book Publisher

If you like to write why not publish your own book?  Self-publishing through Amazon is becoming very common.  You can earn royalties and possibly establish yourself as an expert, which can lead to all kinds of side businesses as a coach or consultant.  And it can all be done remotely.  Or maybe you can have others write the books and you market them.  Others are doing it and again nobody knows or cares about your age.

Sell Your Photos

If you like photography and are good there are ways to sell the rights to use your photos online.  Like writing, the Internet thrives on good photography.

As you can see there are opportunities all over the Internet and age is not a factor.  You are limited only by your enthusiasm, work ethic, and imagination.

Filed Under: Business, General, Money Stuff, Personal Development, Things To Do, Work Leave a Comment
February 3, 2017

Over 60 and ready to kick butt…

Senior Politician

“The times they are a changing.”  Bob Dylan was right and it applies to older folks today.  Never in history have older people been ready to kick butt in all kinds of ways.  Let’s look at why.

The Grey wave

Today’s older folks will not be sitting in the rocking chair – unless it’s while listening to rock music!  They are planning on 20+ years of butt kicking in many ways.  You hear lots about the Baby Boomer generation and how they are going to break the Social Security and Medicare system.  But what about the positive aspects?

Political Clout

Older people are voting in record numbers and they pay attention.  When our representatives do something stupid they give them hell!

A little money and maybe a lot more time

It’s amazing what can be accomplished with a little money and some time.  Some 60+ people are hitting the peak of their earning years and they are not in a big hurry to quit.  Not only can they make a contribution to their employers, they also have some extra money because kids are grown and hopefully most debts are paid off.

Others have just a little money from Social Security and savings but a lot of time.  And all that time can be invested in myriad ways.  Think starting a business, volunteering, or helping young people.

So how can you join the “Kick Butt” demographic?

Get your health in order as much as possible

Health is probably the biggest determination of your degree of involvement.  You hear of many people staying very active into their 80s and 90s.  The key is reasonable health.  Minor health issues you can ignore and just keep going but serious health issues can put you out of the game or end your life prematurely.

Start a business where money isn’t the only goal

This is a big trend these days.  Instead of hanging up their work clothes some are putting on a whole new set.  Many times money is a secondary goal.  They are doing work they love and money is just a side benefit.

Start an organization for a cause

The world has so many problems that need to be solved.  Instead of waiting for somebody else to solve them why not start an organization to solve it yourself.

Use your experience and maturity

This is an area where older folks have a real advantage.  Older people have seen it all before.  Nothing surprises them and they don’t panic.  In my career managing programmers I’ve always tried to maintain a mixture of age groups.  I like older people because when everybody else is panicking they just keep trudging along to solve the problem.

Associate with people of all age groups

Don’t hang around all older retired people.  There is nothing wrong with them, just have an assortment of friends and acquaintances.  You can’t help young people if you don’t ever see any.  Choose your company carefully.  You want to associate with people that are doing stuff, not sitting on their butts.

So how will you kick butt?

Filed Under: Business, General, Money Stuff, Personal Development, Things To Do, Volunteering Leave a Comment